History in the Making
North Park Names
by Jamie Brown on 06/03/10
Walden was first called Point of Rocks and the name was later changed in honor of Mark A Walden, long time postmaster.
Cowdrey was named after Charlie Cowdrey
Coalmont was coined by the Raich brothers who found an abundant amount of coal.
Pearl was named for Pearl Holdridge.
Gould was titled for Ed Gould.
Bulter was named after the Butler family.
Spicer was named after Nick Spicer and is located in the South end of North Park.
Mexican Ridge was titled this after Mexican Joe, a mining claim owner on the ridge.
Do you have fun tidbits and stories from any of these, or other North Park communities? Please share your comments!!
This excerpt was taken from Oley Kohlman's book, A Tough 100 Years.
HISTORY OF THE JOHNSON HOUSE, by Victor Hanson Sr.
by Jamie Brown on 04/13/10
Copied from an original letter written by Victor Hanson Sr., as published in NORTH PARK, by Hazel Gresham, 1975
"It was built by Norrell and Johnson, a Partnership. Three young Swedes just over, namely Alex Hedin, John Ulrich and Nels Nelson done the work. It was all done by fall of 1883. Nelson being a painter, done all inside and outside work. They was all doing thier own cooking. When the house was done and all homemade furnishings in place, Nelson made the Parnters a proposition that he would get married and his wife would do all the house work for twenty five a month. He got the job done and they stayed till in the spring of 1889."
"Norell by that time had found track of an old sweetheart so they was married in Laramie in July, 1889, so she done the house keeping. A wonderful woman, but she passed away in a few years. A cousin of Norell came from New York, Sophie Erickson, kept the household together for some time."
"We should call it 'The House of Romance'. It was used for both church and Sunday school. Also weddings. Edward Wattenberg and Hilda Anderxon was married in the front room by a Justice of Peace. Their honeymoon was to travel by a team of horses and lumber wagon to the home of a one room cabin. Quite a difference from now."
"Next was Johana Erickson who came over to help Mrs. Norrell, she and Jack Tibbet was married shorlty afterwards, and it seems like everyone that worked for Johnson got married shortly afterwards. He had a sister in Chicago, came here to help and brought two charming daughters with her. They thought North Park was a lot better than Chicago so Esther married Archie Maine and Elizabeth married Hildur Norrell. The last housekeeper stayed the longest. Elen Sandahl, one of the best. Carl Erickson had been working for Mr. Johnson several years. He found out what a good cook she was, so he thought best to get married and bought the ranch of Mr. Johnson after a few years. They sold the ranch back to Johnson. Mr. Johnson passed away a few years afterwards and I bought the ranch from the estate."
"So I would like to have the building dedicated to the memory of Jacob Johnson. I hope non will be offended by the history."
VICTOR HANSON
